Propecia Erectile Dysfunction Lawsuit

In recent months, a growing number of lawsuits have been filed nationwide on behalf of men who claim to have suffered from erectile dysfunction after taking Merck’s blockbuster hair loss drug Propecia.

In recent months, a growing number of lawsuits have been filed nationwide on behalf of men who claim to have suffered from erectile dysfunction (ED) after taking Merck’s blockbuster hair loss drug Propecia (generic: finasteride). Mounting research and a new case study have found that Propecia does indeed cause prolonged bouts of erectile dysfunction, contradicting information provided by Merck. Signs and symptoms of Propecia-induced erectile dysfunction include trouble achieving an erection, trouble maintaining an erection, and reduced sexual desire.

Propecia Update 5/22/12: The parents of a former Propecia user who committed suicide after suffering from persistent sexual side effects is blaming the widely-prescribed hair loss treatment for their son’s action. Twenty-two-year-old Randy Santmann killed himself in 2008 within a week of being released from a psychiatric facility, and just six months after discontinuing treatment with Propecia. Click here to learn more.

Propecia Lawsuit Update 4/17/12: The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation announced yesterday that it had decided to centralize the federal Propecia litigation before U.S. District Judge John Gleeson in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Although the current consolidation will be limited to just nine federal Propecia lawsuits pending in courthouses around the country, experts expect this number to grow in response to Merck’s decision to update Propecia’s warning label to include information about the potential risk of persistent sexual side effects. Click here to learn more.

Propecia Update 4/12/12: The warning labels of Propecia and Proscar will be updated to include information about sexual side effects, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced yesterday. The administration’s action came in response to its review of hundreds of adverse event reports that had been linked to the drugs. Click here to learn more.

Propecia Update 3/8/12: This week, the FDA expanded its safety review into Propecia’s sexual side effects, according to an article published today in the Examiner (examiner.com). While neither the FDA nor Merck has responded to the publication’s previously submitted questions about the drug, sources close to the investigation confirm that the administration has responded to hundreds of men who have inquired about Propecia’s potential for sexual side effects. Click here to learn more.

Free Propecia Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has suffered from sexual dysfunction or been diagnosed with cancer after taking Propecia (finasteride) or Proscar, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer of Propecia and we can help.

What’s the problem with Propecia?

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Center for Andrology and Division of Endocrinology at The George Washington University analyzed the effects of Propecia on 71 otherwise healthy men between the ages of 21 and 46. After using the drug, these test subjects reported developing a number of serious prolonged sexual side effects that continued for months, even after discontinuing treatment with Propecia. Specifically:

94% developed low libido;

92% developed erectile dysfunction;

92% experienced decreased sexual arousal;

69% developed problems having an orgasm;

the average number of sexual episodes per month dropped from 25.8 to 8.8;

the total sexual dysfunction score on a standardized test scale increased before and after using Propecia.

The average duration of these sexual side effects was 20 months, with approximately 20% of the test subjects suffering from complications that lasted six years or more.

While Propecia labels do contain a warning about the risk of possible reversible sexual side effects, there is no mention of these complications having the potential to be persistent. Merck claims that the vast majority of men who suffer from ED or other sexual side effects from Propecia are able to recover quickly. “Resolution occurred in men who discontinued therapy with Propecia due to these side effects and in most of those who continued therapy. The incidence of each of the above adverse experiences decreased to ≤0.3 percent by the fifth year of treatment.”

“This is the first trial to show this medication can cause persistent sexual side effects,” says Michael Irwig, co-author of the study. “And the risk needs to be known when men are contemplating taking the medication and doctors are prescribing the medication. … The looming question for all the subjects is whether their sexual function will ever recover. Many of the study participants have developed anxiety and depression as a consequence of their sexual dysfunction and all reported a significantly decreased quality of life, especially with dating and intimacy.”

Propecia Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is characterized by the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection during sexual intercourse. ED is different from other conditions that interfere with a man’s sex life, such as lack of desire (decreased libido) and problems with ejaculation or orgasm. Telltale symptoms of Propecia-induced erectile dysfunction may include:

trouble getting an erection

trouble keeping an erection

reduced sexual desire

Depending on the severity of the condition, the symptoms of erectile dysfunction may vary widely from patient to patient – some men may be totally unable to achieve an erection, while others can only sustain erections for a brief period of time. Additionally, many men suffering from ED may be embarrassed and reluctant to discuss the issue with their doctors, making the condition widely undiagnosed. Nevertheless, experts estimate that erectile dysfunction affects approximately 30 million men in the United States alone.

Want to learn more about Propecia side effects?

Please visit our home page where we provide an overview of the Propecia lawsuit. Here we have posted a number of videos, links to studies and research, and related information: Propecia Lawsuit

Do You Have a Propecia Erectile Dysfunction Lawsuit?

The Product Liability & Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Propecia lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new sexual dysfunction and cancer cases in all 50 states.

Remember, taking a drug like Propecia to treat hair loss shouldn’t lead to permanent sexual dysfunction or cancer. Our law firm is passionate about helping the large number of otherwise healthy men who have suffered from the serious and potentially irreversible side effects of Propecia.

If you or a loved one has suffered from sexual dysfunction or been diagnosed with cancer after taking Propecia (finasteride) or Proscar, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help. We offer a Free Confidential Case Evaluation.